U.S. patent application number 15/804286 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for locker with equipment rack.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sam Allen. Invention is credited to Sam Allen.
Application Number | 20180058760 15/804286 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61242063 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180058760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allen; Sam |
March 1, 2018 |
Locker with Equipment Rack
Abstract
A locker includes a pair of spaced-apart upstanding sidewalls
and at least one shelf extending between the sidewalls, the shelf
and sidewalls defining a compartment. A rack is disposed in the
compartment and extends upwardly from the shelf. The rack is
dimensioned and configured to support at least a pair of shoulder
pads and preferably both pads and a helmet. The rack optionally
includes a ventilation system, and the ventilation system, may be
incorporated into a multi-locker ventilation system.
Inventors: |
Allen; Sam; (Maypearl,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Allen; Sam |
Maypearl |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61242063 |
Appl. No.: |
15/804286 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 61/003 20130101;
A47B 61/02 20130101; F26B 9/06 20130101; F26B 9/003 20130101; A63B
71/0036 20130101; F26B 21/006 20130101; A47B 88/40 20170101 |
International
Class: |
F26B 21/00 20060101
F26B021/00; A47B 61/02 20060101 A47B061/02; F26B 9/06 20060101
F26B009/06; A63B 71/00 20060101 A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. An improved locker, comprising: a pair of spaced-apart
upstanding sidewalls; at least one shelf extending between the
sidewalls, the shelf and sidewalls defining a compartment; and a
rack disposed in the compartment and extending upwardly from the
shelf, the rack dimensioned and configured to support at least a
pair of shoulder pads.
2. The locker of claim 1, wherein the rack comprises: a pair of
upstanding, spaced-apart posts connected at their upper ends by a
generally transversely extending cross member.
3. The locker of claim 1, further comprising: a helmet post
extending upwardly from the rack and dimensioned to support a
helmet above the rack.
4. The locker of claim 2, further comprising: a helmet post
extending upwardly from the cross member and dimensioned to support
a helmet above the cross member.
5. The locker of claim 3, further comprising: a helmet support
member disposed near the upper end of the helmet post.
6. The locker of claim 5, further comprising: a helmet ventilation
system operably associated with the helmet support member for
providing airflow in and around a helmet when the helmet is
disposed on the helmet post.
7. The locker of claim 6, wherein the helmet ventilation system
comprises: a housing coupled to the helmet post; and an electric
fan carried by the housing.
8. The locker of claim 1, further comprising: a shoulder pad
ventilation system for providing airflow in and around the shoulder
pads when the shoulder pads are supported by the rack member.
9. The locker of claim 1, further comprising: a locker ventilation
system for providing airflow in and around the locker.
10. The locker of claim 9, further comprising: a shoulder pad
ventilation system for providing airflow in and around the shoulder
pads when the shoulder pads are supported by the rack member;
wherein the shoulder pad ventilation system is integral with the
locker ventilation system.
11. The locker of claim 10, further comprising: a helmet
ventilation system for providing airflow in and around a helmet
when the helmet is disposed on the rack wherein the helmet
ventilation system is integral with the shoulder pad ventilation
system and the locker ventilation system.
12. The locker of claim 1, wherein the rack is carried by a
generally horizontal shelf disposed between the sidewalls defining
the compartment.
13. The locker of claim 12, wherein the shelf and the rack are
movable between a stored position in the compartment and a deployed
position at least partially out of the compartment.
14. The locker of claim 6, further comprising: a switch for turning
the helmet ventilation system on and off.
15. The locker of claim 6, further comprising: at least one sensor
system for automatically detecting and determining when to turn the
helmet ventilation system on and off.
16. The locker of claim 9, further comprising: at least one sensor
system for automatically detecting and determining when to turn the
locker ventilation system on and off.
17. The locker of claim 1, further comprising: an electronic system
for providing one or more of the following features to the rack:
lights; sound; and security.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to improvements in
lockers or storage cabinets used in athletic or sporting
facilities, and more specifically to compartments within such
lockers configured and adapted especially for storing equipment
such as pads or helmets.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] The aesthetics and utility of lockers or storage cabinets in
"locker rooms" of athletic and sporting facilities of sports teams
and country clubs, for example, have become a measure of the
quality and prestige of such organizations and an increasingly
important aspect of recruiting new team or club members. Modern
lockers are a far cry from the simple wood or metal cabinets of the
past.
[0003] Modern lockers may incorporate storage for specific items of
equipment, such as helmets and shoes, and features promoting
comfort and luxury. One consistent problem in locker rooms of all
types is the storage of heavy, cumbersome equipment such as
football, lacrosse, or hockey helmets and pads. There is a constant
need for improvement in this and other aspects of such lockers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The novel features believed characteristic of the
embodiments of the present application are set forth in the
appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a
preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages
thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following
detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of a
locker incorporating the equipment storage fixture or rack
according to the present application;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially in section of the
locker of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevation and perspective views of the
equipment storage fixture or rack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a locker incorporating the
equipment storage fixture or rack according to a second embodiment
of the present application; and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of
the locker of FIG. 4.
[0010] While the assembly and method of the present application is
susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms,
specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in
the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be
understood, however, that the description herein of specific
embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention
is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives
falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as
defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] Illustrative embodiments of the locker according to the
present application are provided below. It will of course be
appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment,
numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve
the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with
assembly-related and business-related constraints, which will vary
from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be
appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and
time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for
those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure.
[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the drawings, a locker 11
according to an embodiment of the present application is depicted.
Locker 11 comprises a pair of upstanding sidewalls 13 that
generally define the extent of the locker. Each locker 11 may be
installed adjacent to another, similar or identical locker, with
its rear against a wall, and its front facing the interior of the
locker room.
[0013] Between the sidewalls 13 of locker 11, a plurality of
compartments 15 are defined by shelves or other horizontally
extending surfaces or platforms. As used herein, "sidewall" or
"sidewalls" may refer to either "main" sidewalls 13 or other
upstanding or generally vertical sidewalls arranged between the
"main" sidewalls. Multiple additional sidewalls 13 may be placed
between the "main" or exterior sidewalls 13 to define compartments
15 in cooperation with generally horizontally extending shelves.
Each compartment 15 may be sized and otherwise configured for
storage of clothing or sporting equipment or other items and may
include at least one door, which may be lockable. Locker 11 may
also be provided with a bench seat 17 or similar seating
arrangement.
[0014] Among the compartments in locker 11 according to the present
application may be a helmet or pad compartment, generally located
at the upper end of locker 11. An equipment fixture or rack 21 may
be disposed on the shelf defining the lower extent of the helmet or
pad compartment. Rack 21 may be configured and arranged to store a
football or similar helmet alone or together with shoulder pads or
other protective equipment. The shelf on which rack 21 is mounted
may preferably be provided with drawer slides to permit the shelf
and rack 21 to move horizontally in and out of the compartment of
locker 11 between an extended or deployed position and a stored
position for ease of use, as shown in FIG. 2 (see also FIG. 5,
below). The shelf may also be provided with a tilting feature to
permit downward tilting of the shelf when pulled forward or out of
the compartment, again for ease of placing and removing equipment
on rack 21. Rack 21 may be mounted directly to a shelf, with or
without sliding or tilting features, or to a separate platform or
other member carried by the shelf or sidewall 13.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, rack 21 may comprise a pair of
upstanding, spaced-apart posts 23, which are secured to the shelf
or platform by flanges 24. Posts 23 may be connected at their upper
ends by a cross-member or crossbar 25. The distance or dimension
between posts 25 may be narrower than a pair of shoulder pads and
the height of crossbar 25 may be sufficient to support the pads
above the shelf so that the pads contact only rack 21. A helmet
post 27 may extend upwardly from approximately the center or middle
of crossbar 25 and may terminate in a helmet support member 29,
which contacts and supports the interior of a helmet. Helmet post
27 may be dimensioned so that a helmet is suspended entirely above
crossbar 25 (as shown in FIG. 1). Helmet support member 29 may
incorporate a ventilator or helmet ventilation system. The
ventilator may be an electric fan contained in a perforated housing
that is operably associated with support member 29, preferably a
model QFR0812SH-F00 from Delta Products Corp., 46101 Fremont Blvd,
Fremont, Calif. 94538, U.S.A. The fan may circulate air in, around,
and through a helmet or other equipment stored on post 27 for
drying and deodorization purposes. Alternatively, the ventilator
may be coupled to a "forced air" ventilation or air circulation
system that is part of locker 11 or a system of lockers or a room
HVAC system.
[0016] The fan may be powered by AC or DC electric current and may
be provided with a switch to control its operation. The switch may
be manually operated, or may be actuated automatically by the
weight of the helmet on post 27 and support member 29, manually, by
a timer, by voice actuation, by detection of the presence of a
condition such as heat, moisture, or odor, or the like.
[0017] Rack or fixture 21 may be constructed of steel or aluminum
tubing, welded or otherwise secured together in sections comprising
posts 23, crossbar 25, and post 27 and secured to its shelf by
screws or bolts through a flange, as illustrated. The hollow nature
of the preferred tubing may permit passage of electric cables and
air or other gases for power or ventilation and reduces the overall
weight of rack 21.
[0018] FIGS. 4 and 5 depict a locker 11 similar to that of FIGS. 1
and 2, but incorporating a fixture or rack 31 according to another
embodiment of the present application. Fixture or rack 31 is
similar in form and operation to that illustrated in FIGS. 3A and
3B, except that helmet post 27 and support member 29 are omitted.
This embodiment is intended for storage of pads, e.g. shoulder
pads, only, and no helmet. Accordingly, a small vertical projection
or tab takes the place of helmet post 27 and serves to help
"center" or locate pads on rack 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 5,
rack 31 may be mounted on a shelf with a tilting feature 19' that
permits forward tilting of shelf and rack 31, with or without
sliding the shelf forward or out of the storage compartment so that
the shelf and rack 31 are movable between an extended or deployed
position and a storage position. Again, rack 31 may be mounted
directly to a shelf or to a platform coupled to or carried by the
shelf or sidewall 13 of locker 11.
[0019] Rack or fixture 21 may include lights, speakers, or other
functional and/or aesthetic features to improve the desirability of
rack or fixture 21. For example, LED lights may be added to rack
21, so that when a helmet is placed on rack 21 the LED light
illuminates to backlight the helmet. Such aesthetic features, such
as lighting and sound systems, can be integral across a
multi-locker system, so that the effects can be controlled from a
central location and/or server. It will be appreciated that such
automated systems can also be used in managerial and/or security
functions to determine the presence or absence of a helmet and/or
shoulder pads on rack 21. Thus, an equipment manager can quickly
determine from a central server whether specific helmets and/or
shoulder pads are missing.
[0020] It is apparent that a system with significant advantages has
been described and illustrated. The particular embodiments
disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be
modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent
to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings
herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments
disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations
are considered within the scope and spirit of the application.
Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the
description and claims. Although the present embodiments are shown
above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are
amenable to various changes and modifications without departing
from the spirit thereof.
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